Redland Rocket Man and Al Papi storm into $550,000 Little Brown Jug final

Canadian raider Redland Rocket Man (Bulldog Hanover) and Adios champion Al Papi (Papi Rob Hanover) booked their places in the $550,000 Little Brown Jug final with contrasting elimination harness victories at Delaware on Thursday (Sept. 24).

REDLAND ROCKET MAN REPLAY

Redland Rocket Man produced the faster of the two heats, storming home from last to win in 1:50.2 for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer John Pentland.

Supplemented into the race for US$45,000 following his world-record 1:46.4 victory in the Simcoe Stakes, the Bulldog Hanover gelding capitalised on a fierce early battle between Fragment and Melillo. Jamieson launched a three-wide attack approaching the final turn before drawing clear of Watch Em Win, Melillo and Fragment.

“He’s got a motor that he just never runs out of gas,” Pentland said.

In the opening elimination, Al Papi justified his favouritism with a comfortable front-running victory in 1:51.1. Yannick Gingras controlled the tempo before easing the Ron Burke-trained colt down in the closing stages, preserving something for the final. Frantic Hanover finished second, followed by Treacherous Lou and Thai Hanover.

AL PAPI REPLAY

Redland Rocket Man has drawn the coveted inside post for the eight-horse final, with Al Papi immediately alongside him in barrier two. Burke has four finalists, while elimination runner-up Watch Em Win starts from post three.

Post positions for the Little Brown Jug final are listed below with final driver changes and trainers.

1. Redland Rocket Man (Bulldog Hanover)- Jody Jamieson – John Pentland
2. Al Papi  (Papi Rob Hanover)- Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
3. Watch Em Win (He’s Watching)- Chris Page – Ron Burke
4. Frantic Hanover (Stay Hungry) – Tim Tetrick – Ron Burke
5. Treacherous Lou (Captaintreacherous) – Andrew McCarthy – Robert Cleary
6. Melillo (Sweet Lou) – Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Ron Burke
7. Thai Hanover (Stay Hungry) – Dexter Dunn – Mitch York
8. Fragment (Huntsville) – Jason Bartlett – Petter Engblom

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From Harnesslink Media